Prunus Serrulata Research Articles

Developing the volume models for 5 major species of street trees in Gwangju metropolitan city of Korea

Street trees are one of the most important parts of an urban forest system because they have various functions including environmental conservation, harmony of scenery, traffic safety, and prevention. Moreover, of the analysis factors considered for street trees, volume is mainly used not only for further research on health assessment, environment analysis, carbon storage estimation, and economic analysis, but also for local government management of street trees. For this reason, this study was performed to develop volume models for the 5 major species of street tree of Gwangju metropolitan city in Korea. After selecting the 5 major species – Ginkgo biloba, Zelkova serrata, Metasequoia glytroboides, Prunus serrulata, and Platanus occidentalis – one hundred sample trees of each species were randomly chosen considering diameter at the breast height (DBH), and then diameter at every 2m height, height, and crown radius were measured. Volume was calculated using the Huber equation. Regression analysis, variance analysis, and descriptive statistical analysis were conducted using the 4 regression equations, and the best volume model was chosen by comparing precision, accuracy, credibility, and normality. From the results, all species showed the same patterns according to model type. That is, models that included diameter and height out-performed models with crown basal area had the highest precision, while model type IV using crown basal area (CBA) as a parameter showed the lowest goodness of fit because CBA can be influenced by volume, planting distance and space, or pollarding. Thus, using DBH and H together should be suitable for designing the volume models for urban-grown trees. However, properly trained experts are very important in order to avoid measurement error. Moreover, a large amount of data on Platanus ocidentalis is required to avoid large error in volume due to pollarding treatment. To sum up, model type III was chosen as the best fit models for all species with lowest MSE and highest R2, and that models can be used to forecast the volume of and making ordinances for street trees in Gwangju metropolitan city, Korea.

Eco-friendly synthesis of Ag-NPs using Cerasus serrulata plant extract – Its catalytic, electrochemical reduction of 4-NPh and antibacterial activity

In the present investigation, we report a facile, reproducible and effortless biological synthesis of silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) utilizing Cerasus serrulata (C. serrulata) leaves extract as reducing as well as stabilizing agent. The size of synthesized Ag-NPs was in the range of 15–24nm when examined with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction studies. The Ag-NPs obtained using C. serrulata exhibited excellent catalytic activity towards reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NPh) to 4-aminophenol in the presence of NaBH4 and demonstrate noteworthy electrochemical performance for 4-NPh reduction. The linear range, detection limit and sensitivity are estimated as 0.09–82.5μM (r=0.991), 0.06μM and 3.0μAμM−1cm2 respectively. The Ag-NPs were found to show higher antimicrobial efficiency against Streptococcus mutans and Staphylococcus aureus.

First Report of Prunus serrulata Stem Canker Caused by Botryosphaeria dothidea in China

First Report of <i>Prunus serrulata</i> Stem Canker Caused by <i>Botryosphaeria dothidea</i> in China

Expression of A Floral Homeotic Gene PrseSTK from Prunus lannesiana in Single and Double Flower

Expression of A Floral Homeotic Gene PrseSTK from Prunus lannesiana in Single and Double Flower

Phyto mediated biogenic synthesis of gold nanoparticles using Cerasus serrulata and its utility in detecting hydrazine, microbial activity and DFT studies

Green synthesis of Au-NPs using Cerasus serrulata (C. serrulata) leaves extract has emerged as a nontoxic and ecofriendly option, as compared to currently available chemical and/or physical methods and also Au-NPs act as both reducing and stabilizing agent. The developed Au-NPs were characterized with XRD, UV–visible spectroscopy, FTIR, SEM, TEM and chemical constituents of C. serrulata leaves extract after and before reduction of Au-NPs have been identified through GC–MS. TEM images confirmed that biosynthesized Au-NPs were spherical in shape and approximately in the range of 5–25nm. The electrochemical results showed remarkable electrocatalytic activity of the Au-NPs-modified GC electrode in the detection of environmentally hazardous pollutant like hydrazine. The modified electrode exhibits a wide linear range 5nM to 272μM with low detection limit 0.05μM. The fabricated sensor shows good selectivity towards other electroactive species as well. Thus the proposed sensor seems to be a potential candidate for developing a simple, rapid and cost-effective electrochemical sensor. The synthesized Au-NPs exhibited higher antibacterial activity against gram negative (Escherichia coli) than gram positive (Staphylococcus aureus) bacteria. DFT studies revealed that the coumarin (CM) present in the C. serrulata leaves extract demonstrated greater reducing and stabilizing properties compared to the properties of other compounds like butylhydroxytoluene (BHT) and hydrocoumarin (HCM) present in the extract.

ソメイヨシノの自家不和合性打破の試みと花粉管伸長に及ぼす影響

自家和合性は育種や遺伝学において重要な形質の一つである．本研究は自家不和合のサクラの品種ソメイヨシノにおける自家不和合性の打破を目的に，蕾受粉，柱頭切除および温湯浸漬処理を試みると同時に，それぞれの受粉処理における花粉管伸長を調べた．柱頭切除処理ではわずかな花粉しか受粉せず，花粉管もほとんど伸長していなかった．また，蕾受粉および40°Cの温湯浸漬処理における自家花粉の花粉管は，柱頭からおよそ4 mmの花柱の中央部において伸長を停止していた．これは対照区における花粉管伸長と変わらない（P > 0.05）．一方，45°C， 50°Cの温湯に浸漬することにより，有意に自家花粉の伸長が促進されることが示された（それぞれ平均6.9 mmおよび8.6 mm，P < 0.001）．特に50°Cの浸漬処理では多くの花柱において，花柱基部までの花粉管の到達が観察され，自家花粉の伸長阻害を打破することができた．ただし，高温にさらした花は受粉後数週間以内にすべて壊死してしまい，自殖種子は得られなかった．

일본 고베시(神戶市) 포트아일랜드 가로녹지 구조 유형 연구

본 연구는 일본 고베시(神戶市) 해안 매립도시인 포트아일랜드 가로녹지의 지형구조별 도로 유형, 주변 토지이용, 식재구조를 조사 분석하여 녹지량이 풍부한 가로녹지 식재기법 사례를 제공하고자 수행하였다. 포트아일랜드(총면적 826ha)는 일본 내에서도 최초의 인공섬으로 항만시설과 본격적인 도시기능시설을 겸비한 해상문화도시이다. 연구대상지내 <TEX>$55{\sim}285m^2$</TEX> 면적의 조사구 11개소를 설정하여 조사 한 결과, 가로녹지의 지형구조는 마운딩형, 사면형, 사면+평지형, 평지형의 4개 유형으로 구분되었고, 인접한 도로의 폭에 따라 지형구조가 변화하였다. 인접한 도로의 차선이 많아서 소음, 공해물질 등 영향을 많이 받는 지역은 마운딩형, 사면형, 사면+평지형 등의 지형구조와 광폭의 다층구조 녹지대를 조성하였고, 도로차선이 적은 지역인 경우, 평지형의 지형구조와 화관목 위주의 관목을 식재하여 가로띠녹지를 조성하였다. 인접한 토지이용은 공공기관, 공동주택지, 주상복합지, 상업업무지 등이었고, 식재개념은 중로(4차선)의 경우 완충+경관기능, 소로(2차선)의 경우 경관기능이었다. 식재종은 대만풍나무, 녹나무, 조구나무, 참죽나무, 담팔수, 은행나무, 벚나무, 느티나무, 종가시나무, 향나무, 목련, 철쭉류, 동백나무, 꽃댕강나무 등 다양하게 나타났다. 식재밀도는 교목층 0.02~0.08(0.04)주/<TEX>$m^2$</TEX>, 아교목층 0.02~0.08(0.04)주/<TEX>$m^2$</TEX>이었고, 녹피율은 교목층 40.0~173.7(93.0)%, 아교목층 2.1~79.8(34.9)%, 관목층 17.9~64.2(4.13)%이었다. 녹지용적계수는 교목층 <TEX>$1.43{\sim}6.67(4.13)m^3/m^2$</TEX>, 아교목층 <TEX>$0.02{\sim}2.01(0.85)m^3/m^2$</TEX>, 관목층 <TEX>$0.14{\sim}0.58(0.26)m^3/m^2$</TEX>이었다. 포트아일랜드 가로녹지의 녹피율은 서울시 주요 가로녹지에 비해 높은 수준이었고, 특히 관목층 녹피율과 녹지용적계수는 우리나라 주요 가로녹지와 비교하였을 때 많은 차이가 있었다. 본 연구 결과는 현재 우리나라에 조성되고 있는 해안 매립기반 도시의 가로녹지 조성 시 지형구조, 식재구조, 식재기능 등을 고려하여 다양한 기능을 수행하는 가로녹지 조성기법 사례지로 응용이 가능할 것으로 판단된다. This study was carried out to provide examples of planting methods for the construction of street green spaces with abundant greenery by analyzing road type, surrounding land use and planting structures in street green spaces on Port Island, Kobe, Japan. Port Island_(total area: 826ha) is a marine cultural city located in Japan's first artificial island with facilities of urban function and port facilities. The study site was designated at 11 plots of <TEX>$55{\sim}285m^2$</TEX> on Port Island, and topography structure styles were divided into four types with mounding style, slope style, slope and flat style, flat style according to the adjacent roads width. The area adjacent to the middle roads with high levels of noise and pollution set up the mounding style, slope style, slope and flat style of multi-layer structures using topographic properties. The area adjacent to small roads focused on a green strip with shrubs on a flat style. Surrounding land-uses include a public institution, housing complex, and a commercial building. The planting concept was a buffer and landspace function in case of the middle road_(lane 4) while the small road_(lane 2) was a landspace function. Planting species were diverse with Liquidambe formosana, Cinnamomum camphora, Sapium sebiferum, Cedrela sinensis, Laeocarpus sylvestris var. ellipticus, Ginkgo biloba, Prunus serrulata var. spontanea, Zelkova serrata, Quercus glauca, Juniperus chinensis, Magnolia kobus, Rhododendron spp., Camellia japonica, Abelia mosanensis, etc. Planting density was 0.02~0.08(0.04) individual/<TEX>$m^2$</TEX> at the canopy layer, 0.02~0.08(0.04) individual/<TEX>$m^2$</TEX> at the understory layer. Ratio of green coverage was 40.0~173.7(93.0)% at the canopy layer, 2.1~79.8(34.9)% at the understory layer and 17.9~64.2(32.9)% at the shrub layer. <TEX>$Gr{\ddot{u}}volumenzahl$</TEX> was <TEX>$1.43{\sim}6.67(4.13)m^3/m^2$</TEX> at the canopy layer, <TEX>$0.02{\sim}2.01(0.85)m^3/m^2$</TEX> at the understory layer and <TEX>$0.14{\sim}0.58(0.26)m^3/m^2$</TEX> at the shrub layer. The ratio of green coverage of street green space on Port Island was higher than that of Seoul, and particularly, the ratio of green coverage and <TEX>$gr{\ddot{u}}volumenzahl$</TEX> at the shrub layer differed, compared to the main street green space in Korea. The result of this study may be applicable to other coastal reclaimed cities in terms of setting methods for street greenery considering the topography structure, planting structure and planting function.

Hybrid seedling inviability locus (HIs1) mapped on linkage group 4 of the Japanese flowering cherry, Cerasus × yedoensis ‘Somei-yoshino’

Cerasus × yedoensis ‘Somei-yoshino’ (2n = 16), one of the most popular cultivars of Japanese flowering cherry, is considered a hybrid between Cerasus spachiana and Cerasus speciosa. In the present study, we observed segregation of the trait for seedling growth in F1 progenies of Somei-yoshino. In all three families crossed with ancestral wild species, C. spachiana, approximately half of the seedlings showed growth failure. To identify loci involved in seedling inviability, we constructed a genetic linkage map of Somei-yoshino. Both normal growth (N = 77) and growth failure seedlings (N = 101) of an F1 progenies crossed between Somei-yoshino (CY) and C. spachiana (E750) were used for map construction. In accordance to pseudo-testcross strategy, female (CY) and male (E750) linkage maps were constructed. The CY map consists of eight linkage groups with 59 simple sequence repeat (SSR) and 17 amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers. The map length is 574.9 cM. In contrast, the E750 map reached 196.8 cM and included 17 SSRs. Subsequently, we explored positions of loci associated to seedling inviability along with linkage maps. Results of segregation distortion of markers, association analysis, and interval mapping consistently showed that an inviability gene was located between two SSR markers, EMPaS13 and BPPCT005 in the fourth linkage group (LG4) of the Somei-yoshino map with 99.6 % explanations for the inviability trait but not present in LG4 of the E750 map. From the genotypes and expressions of seedling inviability, we named the locus Hybrid Inviability of seedlings 1 (HIs1). Finally, HIs1 was mapped to LG4 as Mendelian trait loci and was completely linked with an SSR, EMPaS13. Although the mechanisms of seedling inviability cannot be explained by only one locus model of HIs1, one of the candidate genes involved in hybrid incompatibility between Somei-yoshino and C. spachiana is certainly located on LG4 of the CY map.

Transpiration of urban trees and its cooling effect in a high latitude city.

An important ecosystem service provided by urban trees is the cooling effect caused by their transpiration. The aim of this study was to quantify the magnitude of daytime and night-time transpiration of common urban tree species in a high latitude city (Gothenburg, Sweden), to analyse the influence of weather conditions and surface permeability on the tree transpiration, and to find out whether tree transpiration contributed to daytime or nocturnal cooling. Stomatal conductance and leaf transpiration at day and night were measured on mature street and park trees of seven common tree species in Gothenburg: Tilia europaea, Quercus robur, Betula pendula, Acer platanoides, Aesculus hippocastanum, Fagus sylvatica and Prunus serrulata. Transpiration increased with vapour pressure deficit and photosynthetically active radiation. Midday rates of sunlit leaves ranged from less than 1 mmol m(-2) s(-1) (B. pendula) to over 3 mmol m(-2) s(-1) (Q. robur). Daytime stomatal conductance was positively related to the fraction of permeable surfaces within the vertically projected crown area. A simple estimate of available rainwater, comprising of precipitation sum and fractional surface permeability within the crown area, was found to explain 68% of variation in midday stomatal conductance. Night-time transpiration was observed in all studied species and amounted to 7 and 20% of midday transpiration of sunlit and shaded leaves, respectively. With an estimated night-time latent heat flux of 24 W m(-2), tree transpiration significantly increased the cooling rate around and shortly after sunset, but not later in the night. Despite a strong midday latent heat flux of 206 W m(-2), a cooling effect of tree transpiration was not observed during the day.

Using daily temperature to predict phenology trends in spring flowers

The spring season in Korea features a dynamic landscape with a variety of flowers blooming sequentially one after another. This enables local governments to earn substantial sightseeing revenues by hosting festivals featuring spring flowers. Furthermore, beekeepers move from the southern tip of the Korean Peninsula all the way northward in a quest to secure spring flowers as nectar sources for a sustained period of time. However, areal differences in flowering dates of flower species are narrowing, which has economic consequences. Analysis of data on flowering dates of forsythia (Forsythia koreana) and cherry blossom (Prunus serrulata), two typical spring flower species, as observed for the past 60 years at six weather stations of the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) indicated that the difference between the flowering date of forsythia, the earliest blooming flower in spring, and cherry blossom, which flowers later than forsythia, was 14 days on average in the climatological normal year for the period 1951–1980, compared with 11 days for the period 1981–2010. In 2014, the gap narrowed further to 7 days, making it possible in some locations to see forsythias and cherry blossoms blooming at the same time. Synchronized flowering of these two flower species is due to acceleration of flowering due to an abnormally high spring temperature, and this was more pronounced in the later-blooming cherry blossom than forsythia. While cherry blossom flowering dates across the nation ranged from March 31 to April 19 (an areal difference of 20 days) for the 1951–1980 normal year, the difference ranged from March 29 to April 12 (an areal difference of 16 days) for the 1981–2010 normal year, and in 2014, the flowering dates spanned March 25 and March 30 (an areal difference of 6 days). In the case of forsythia, the gap was narrower than in cherry blossoms. Climate change in the Korean Peninsula, reflected by rapid temperature hikes in late spring in contrast to a slow temperature rise in early spring immediately after dormancy release, likely brought forward the flowering date of cherry blossom. We derived a thermal time-based flowering model from this analysis and used it to predict the flowering dates of forsythia and cherry blossom in 2014. The root mean square error for the prediction was within 2 days from the observed flowering dates in both species, showing a feasibility of prediction under the changing climate.

Maintenance of leaves and indolebutyric acid in rooting of juvenile Japanese Flowering Cherry cuttings

The Japanese Flowering Cherry ( Prunus serrulata Lindl.), also known as Hill Cherry, is an exotic species native to the East Asia, widely used in landscapi...

Inorganic–organic hybrid biodegradable polyurethane resin derived from liquefied Sakura wood

Prunus cerasus (Japanese cherry blossom: Sakura) was liquefied in polyethylene glycol—glycerol co-solvent with sulfuric acid (H2SO4) as a catalyst. The liquefied wood was blended with poly-4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate to prepare polyurethane (PU) resin. In addition, inorganic–organic hybrid biodegradable polyurethane resin was prepared by adding tetraethoxysilane into liquefied-wood-derived polyurethane. It was found that the thermal stability of liquefied-wood-derived polyurethane is better than general polyurethane. Furthermore, it was ensured that Si was introduced in PU at a molecular level, while maintaining the urethane structure.

Pruni cortex ameliorates skin inflammation possibly through HMGB1-NFκB pathway in house dust mite induced atopic dermatitis NC/Nga transgenic mice.

Pruni cortex, the bark of Prunus jamasakura Siebold ex Koidzumi, has been used in the Japanese systems of medicine for many years for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antitussive properties. In this study, we investigated the effect of pruni cortex on atopic dermatitis NC/Nga mouse model. Atopic dermatitis-like lesion was induced by the application of house dust mite extract to the dorsal skin. After induction of atopic dermatitis, pruni cortex aqueous extract (1 g/kg, p.o.) was administered daily for 2 weeks. We evaluated dermatitis severity, histopathological changes and cellular protein expression by Western blotting for nuclear and cytoplasmic high mobility group box 1, receptor for advanced glycation end products, nuclear factor κB, apoptosis and inflammatory markers in the skin of atopic dermatitis mice. The clinical observation confirmed that the dermatitis score was significantly lower when treated with pruni cortex than in the atopic dermatitis group. Similarly pruni cortex inhibited hypertrophy and infiltration of inflammatory cells as identified by histopathology. In addition, pruni cortex significantly inhibited the protein expression of cytoplasmic high mobility group box 1, receptor for advanced glycation end products, nuclear p-nuclear factor kappa B, apoptosis and inflammatory markers. These results indicate that pruni cortex may have therapeutic potential in the treatment of atopic dermatitis by attenuating high mobility group box 1 and inflammation possibly through the nuclear factor κB pathway.

Distribution of Myxomycetes on Varied Leaf Litter Types in a Mixed Forest in Warm-Temperate Western Japan

Myxomycete assemblages were compared on various leaf litters of different vegetation types in a local mixed forest consisting of deciduous and evergreen trees in western Japan. A total of 33 myxomycete species were recorded and associated with the chemical and biological environments of leaf litters under natural condition of the forest floor. Different myxomycete assemblages were found on different sites under the dominant trees in a short distance apart (300 m). A site of Prunus jamasakura tree yielded 21 species, a Quercus glauca tree yielded 20 species, an Ilex pedunculosa tree yielded 12 species, and two Quercus serrata trees yielded 13 and 14 species, respectively. Non-metric multidimensional scaling demonstrated that the myxomycete assemblages were closely related to the litter types of deciduous and evergreen trees, and both litter pH and cellulolytic activity influenced distribution of myxomycete species. Species richness was higher in leaf litters with higher pH than in leaf litters with more acidic pH such as I. pedunculosa litter. The dominant tree litter and litter pH strongly influenced the species distribution of foliicolous myxomycetes in a local mixed forest.

First Report of Apple chlorotic leaf spot virus, Cherry green ring mottle virus, and Cherry necrotic rusty mottle virus on Peach in Montenegro.

The sanitary status of peach fruit trees was assessed in central and coastal regions of Montenegro during a survey in September and October of 2011 and 2012. Leaf samples were collected from 58 (2011) and 47 (2012) trees showing chlorotic rings and spots, mosaic, necrosis, leaf distortion, and stunting. Total RNAs was extracted from each sample by RNeasy Plant Mini kit (Qiagen, Germany) and used as a template in PDO (polyvalent degenerate oligonucleotides) nested reverse transcription (RT)-PCR for the detection of fruit tree viruses belonging to the genera Trichovirus, Capillovirus, and Foveavirus (family Betaflexiviridae). PDO primer sets PDO-F1i/PDO-R3i/PDO-R4i and PDO-F2i/PDO-R1i (2) were used in the first RT-PCR and nested PCR, respectively. Total RNAs obtained from Italian Apple chlorotic leaf spot virus (ACLSV)-infected isolate and healthy peach leaves were used as positive and negative controls, respectively. A nested set of primers amplified a 362-bp product from 6 samples collected in 2011 (10.3%) and 13 samples collected in 2012 (27.7%). Sequence analysis included three isolates (367/11, 133/12, and 168/12) chosen from different peach cultivars (Ritastar, Spring Belle, and Redhaven, respectively). Amplified products of expected size of the partial RNA-dependent RNA polymerase from three positive samples were cloned into p-GEM-T Easy Vector (Promega, Madison, WI) and sequenced (MWG-Biotech AG, Germany). Sequences were deposited in GenBank under accession nos. KF534757, KF534769, and KF534766, respectively. BLAST analysis showed that the sequence of isolate 367/11 (KF534757) shared high nucleotide similarity (78.9 to 87.2%) with ACLSV isolates from GenBank, showing highest identity with isolate PBM1 (AJ243438) from Germany. Sequence analysis of isolate 133/12 (KF534769) proved that it is 90.5 to 93.3% identical to Cherry green ring mottle virus (CGRMV) isolates reported from other parts of the world. In particular, the highest nucleotide similarity was showed with isolate P1C124 (AJ291761) from France. Finally, analysis of sequence from the isolate 168/12 (KF534766) revealed high degree of identity (86.1 to 96.1%) with the corresponding nucleotide sequences of the Cherry necrotic rusty mottle virus (CNRMV) isolates, showing highest similarity with isolate 120/86 (AF237816) from Switzerland. To confirm virus infectivity, according to the FAO/IPGRI Technical Guidelines (1), budwood from 367/11, 133/12, and 168/12 samples were grafted into seedlings of peach (GF305), Prunus serrulata (cv. Shirofugen) and P. avium (cv. Sam) then maintained in a greenhouse with controlled conditions. Six months post inoculation, GF305 indexed with 367/11 sample reacts with a green depressed mottle on leaves typical of ACLSV infection. Cherry tree of cv. Shirofugen indexed with sample 133/12 showed symptoms attributable to CGRMV such as epinasty, twisting and curling of leaves while a tree of cv. Sam indexed with 168/12 sample exhibited classical necrotic shot holes in leaves induced by CNRMV infection (1). Sequence analysis of PCR products obtained from indicator plants by RT-PCR as described above showed full nucleotide identity with KF534757, KF534769, and KF534766 sequences and confirmed the presence of previous described viral agents. To our knowledge, this is the first report of ACLSV, CGRMV, and CNRMV occurrence on peach in Montenegro. Due to the economic importance of this crop, sanitation measures should be adopted to improve the control of imported plants and the use of virus-tested propagation material in order to prevent spreading of these viruses.

Cherry blossom phenological data since the seventeenth century for Edo (Tokyo), Japan, and their application to estimation of March temperatures.

The changes in March mean temperatures in Edo (Tokyo), Japan, since the seventeenth century, were reconstructed using phenological data for the cherry blossoms of Prunus jamasakura deduced from old diaries and chronicles. The observations of the time of full blossoming and of cherry blossom viewing parties were acquired and used to construct a full-blossoming phenological data series for P. jamasakura. Phenological data from 207 of the years from 1601 to 1905 were used for this study. The reconstructed temperatures suggested the existence of two cold periods (the second half of the seventeenth century and the beginning of the nineteenth century), during which times the estimated March mean temperatures were about 4°C and 5°C, respectively. These two cold periods at Edo coincided with those reconstructed at Kyoto in previous studies. These cold periods coincided with two less extreme periods, the Maunder and Dalton minima, in the long-term solar variation cycle.

Identification and molecular characterization of 16SrV group phytoplasmas with flowering cherry in China

SummaryFlowering cherry (Prunus serrulata) trees showing symptoms of excessive axillary growth, stunting, short internodes and decline were observed in Yantai City, Shandong province, China. The samples with the flowering cherry decline were designated as FcD‐YT phytoplasma. Sequencing results, restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and phylogenetic analysis of sequences from the 1248‐bp R16F2n⁄R16R2 products and partial ribosomal protein operon genes revealed the FcD‐YT phytoplasma as a member of subgroup 16SrV‐B, rpV‐C. Two RFLP patterns were observed in recombinant colonies from the cloned 16S rDNA gene with endonucleases HpaII and MseI. To our knowledge, this is the first report of 16SrV group phytoplasma declining flowering cherry trees in China.

Modeling daily flowering probabilities: expected impact of climate change on Japanese cherry phenology

Understanding the drivers of phenological events is vital for forecasting species' responses to climate change. We developed flexible Bayesian survival regression models to assess a 29-year, individual-level time series of flowering phenology from four taxa of Japanese cherry trees (Prunus spachiana, Prunus×yedoensis, Prunus jamasakura, and Prunus lannesiana), from the Tama Forest Cherry Preservation Garden in Hachioji, Japan. Our modeling framework used time-varying (chill and heat units) and time-invariant (slope, aspect, and elevation) factors. We found limited differences among taxa in sensitivity to chill, but earlier flowering taxa, such as P. spachiana, were more sensitive to heat than later flowering taxa, such as P. lannesiana. Using an ensemble of three downscaled regional climate models under the A1B emissions scenario, we projected shifts in flowering timing by 2100. Projections suggest that each taxa will flower about 30days earlier on average by 2100 with 2-6days greater uncertainty around the species mean flowering date. Dramatic shifts in the flowering times of cherry trees may have implications for economically important cultural festivals in Japan and East Asia. The survival models used here provide a mechanistic modeling approach and are broadly applicable to any time-to-event phenological data, such as plant leafing, bird arrival time, and insect emergence. The ability to explicitly quantify uncertainty, examine phenological responses on a fine time scale, and incorporate conditions leading up to an event may provide future insight into phenologically driven changes in carbon balance and ecological mismatches of plants and pollinators in natural populations and horticultural crops.

An evaluation of the afforestation outcome of six tree species in more than 40 years in Meng-shan Mountain, Shandong Province, China

Aims Vegetation restoration is always a key problem and primary objective in restoration ecology.Our objectives were to evaluate forest restoration and reconstruction in Mengshan Mountain,including the impact on plant diversity of using different tree species in afforestation,and to select species for afforestation,in order to provide the basis for regulation and prediction of forest vegetation restoration and reconstruction in the Yimeng Mountain Area.Methods Six kinds of major artificial forest over 40 years in age were selected for study using a typical sampling method.Species richness,Shannon-Wiener diversity index,Simpson diversity index and Pielou evenness index were used to evaluate species diversity of the tree,shrub and herb layers.Analysis of tree diameter-class distribution was applied in determining the type of development of the plant.Important findings Each of the four indexes indicated that Pinus densiflora,Quercus variabilis,P.thunbergii,Larix kaempferi and Robinia pseudoacacia have better outcomes in afforestation and P.tabuliformis has relatively poor outcomes.In the tree layer,the four diversity indices of the P.tabuliformis artificial forest community were significantly different from those of P.densiflora,Q.variabilis,P.thunbergii,L.kaempferi and R.pseudoacacia artificial forest(p 0.05).In terms of diversity,shrub layer tree layer herb layer,and the differences were significant(p 0.01).There are 29 expansive species,3 seclusive species,9 enhancing invasive species and 11 randomly invasive species.Pinus densiflora and P.tabuliformis had great difficulty in population regeneration,and L.kaempferi had no seedlings.Shrub layers and herb layers may be the key factors hindering the natural regeneration of coniferous forest.Fifteen kinds of species for afforestation of Mengshan Mountain have been screened,including seven species for early afforestation(A) and eight for afforestation(B).Two types of A1(constructive species) are P.densiflora and P.tabuliformis.Five types of A2(companion species) are Dalbergia hupeana,Fraxinus rhynchophylla,Cerasus serrulata,Albizia kalkora and Carpinus turczaninowii.Two types of B1(constructive species) are Q.variabilis and Q.acutissima.Six types of B2(companion species) are Sorbus alnifolia,Q.dentata,Diospyros lotus,Celtis bungeana,Celtis koraiensis and Lindera obtusiloba.

Single Amino Acid Changes in the 6K1-CI Region Can Promote the Alternative Adaptation of Prunus- and Nicotiana-Propagated Plum pox virus C Isolates to Either Host

Plum pox virus (PPV) C is one of the less common PPV strains and specifically infects cherry trees in nature. Making use of two PPV-C isolates that display different pathogenicity features, i.e., SwCMp, which had been adapted to Nicotiana species, and BY101, which had been isolated from cherry rootstock L2 (Prunus lannesiana) and propagated only in cherry species, we have generated two infective full-length cDNA clones in order to determine which viral factors are involved in the adaptation to each host. According to our results, the C-P3(PIPO)/6K1/N-CI (cylindrical inclusion) region contains overlapping but not coincident viral determinants involved in symptoms development, local viral amplification, and systemic movement capacity. Amino acid changes in this region promoting the adaptation to N. benthamiana or P. avium have trade-off effects in the alternative host. In both cases, adaptation can be achieved through single amino acid changes in the NIapro protease recognition motif between 6K1 and CI or in nearby sequences. Thus, we hypothesize that the potyvirus polyprotein processing could depend on specific host factors and the adaptation of PPV-C isolates to particular hosts relies on a fine regulation of the proteolytic cleavage of the 6K1-CI junction.